The Four Parts to a Story All Secrets Revealed

I. Setting Time: when in history the story takes place Also includes over what time frame the story takes place. Place: where the story takes place Social Conditions: daily life of the characters Social Class Gender Education Level Occupation/s Mental/Physical Disabilities

II. Character Types of Characters: Protagonist: main person in the story May or my not be a hero, a person on a quest for truth, beauty, or to save his/her society. Antagonist: person causing the conflicts/obstacles in opposition to the protagonist May or may not be a villain, a person who does evil for evil’s sake Anti-hero: a character with some of the qualities of a villain, up to and including brutality, pessimism, and heartlessness, but with the motivations of a typical hero Supporting Character: fairly important, but not a leading character

Flat: a character w/out much development, usually a minor one Character Labels – Applies to all types of characters Flat: a character w/out much development, usually a minor one Round: a character with great development, usually a major one Static: a character that does not change throughout the course of story Dynamic: a character that changes throughout the course of a story Stock: basically a stereotype

How to Find Character Traits Physical description of character What the character does/does not do What the character says/thinks What others say about the character

III. Conflict Definition – struggle between two opposing forces Internal Character vs. Self: Outside elements cause tension within a character. The character may have to struggle against a personality defect.

External Character vs. Character Character vs. Nature Character vs. Society A character struggles with a group of people or a belief system held by his/her society. Character vs. Science/Technology

IV. Plot - The events of a story in sequence C D B E A

A. Exposition Characters are introduced. Setting is established. Introduced to the main conflict (main problem). Add all 3 = Mood or Atmosphere: feeling that is created at the beginning of a story

Inciting Incident/Action/Force Something happens that gets the action moving, usually in the first three chapters of a novel or the first act of a play.

B. Rising Action Event that begins to develop the main conflict(s)

C. Climax Turning point of the story Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

D. Falling Action Loose ends of the plot are tied up. Consequences of the climax The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

E. Final Crisis Sometimes called mini climax Occurs mainly in plays and novels, but not a requirement Final test/challenge/moment of suspense that will test the morality of the protagonist and supporting characters

E. Dénouement or Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending. “Reasonable” is determined by what makes sense based on the events of the story up to this point.

By studying all four of these elements, one can conclude a theme or themes that the author has created. Theme: a major idea that an author develops in his/her writing; written in a declarative sentence Can include: Moral lesson Comment author is making on society

Genres of Literature Genre: type of literary work Fiction Novel Short story Play Folktales/Fables Fiction can be further divided into: Realistic – every day situations Gothic – supernatural elements Fantasy – supernatural elements plus supernatural creatures and settings Science Fiction – heavy on technology; usually set in the future Comedy – humorous situations; positive ending for the protagonist

Nonfiction Poetry Essay Article in newspaper or magazine Biography Narrative Persuasive Article in newspaper or magazine Biography Autobiography/Memoir Journal Letter Speech Poetry